The Secret Place

 

 

Merging with shadows

...in he creeps

pushes aside heavy black velvet

slouches on his stools purple brocade seat

wrought iron legs

creak scrape

over varnish stripped floor

 

Immaculate fingers

flick a switch

he is.... all lit up

lines,bags, jowls

leap out at him

the bare bones

a husk of who he really is

 

 

Hairnet on

he snatches the peroxide Dietrich wig from its mannequin

fastening it in place

dipping slender hands in the pot of clown white

his ears catch the faint hum of applause

breathing easy again

he is becoming the person

he sees in his minds eye

paparazzi bulbs flash around him

spreading a smile across his peacock painted face

 

beauty spot in place

he arches his browline to accept the ebony pencil

as it expertly follows his imagined bone structure

then blinks rapidly as liquid eyeliner settles

elevating his features to another level

pillar box red lips

leave their impression

on the finger smudged mirror

as he rises

the chrysalis bursts open